Can Eddie Hearn Turn Jaron Ennis Into The Next Great American Superstar?

Philadelphia’s boxing scene is buzzing with excitement as Jaron “Boots” Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) returns home for the first time in over five years. This isn’t just any homecoming; it’s his first fight as the IBF world welterweight champion. Ennis will defend his title against David Avanesyan (30-4-1, 18KOs), a replacement opponent who is expected to pose little challenge. Avanesyan stepped in after Cody Crowley was pulled due to an eye issue. Despite Avanesyan’s recent history of a sixth-round stoppage loss to Terence Crawford in December 2022, Boots is ready to make a statement in front of his hometown fans.

Ennis’s journey to this point has been anything but smooth. His career has been plagued by false starts, promotional issues, and litigation. In 2019, his promoter, Chris Middendorf of Victory Boxing Promotions, sued him for breach of contract, a case that wasn’t settled until 2021. Afterward, Ennis signed with Cameron Dunkin and NOW Boxing Promotions. However, Dunkin’s passing in 2023 led to yet another lawsuit, this time involving Dunkin’s widow, which eventually resulted in Ennis gaining his promotional freedom.

Adding to the tumult, Paramount’s decision to drop Showtime Boxing left Boots without a network home. Although not officially a PBC fighter, Ennis had frequently been featured on PBC cards and was expected to continue in this vein after PBC’s new deal with Amazon Prime. It came as a surprise when Ennis signed a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. Ennis and his father, Bozy, emphasized that Boots was eager to return to the ring and sought stability and consistent fight dates, which Hearn promised to provide.

Now, as Ennis prepares for his first defense under the Matchroom banner, the spotlight is on Hearn to see if he can deliver on his promise. With plenty of dates available, he plans to make Boots the headliner of his own cards, starting with Saturday’s bout. However, the key to turning Ennis into the next great American superstar lies in the quality of his opponents. While Avanesyan is a respectable fighter, he’s not the marquee name that will elevate Ennis’s profile. Hearn’s challenge will be to secure fights with top-tier stars, the likes of Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, and Keith Thurman, and fellow welterweight title holders like Mario Barrios, Eimantas Stanionis and Brian Norman Jr. These are the matchups that will not only test Ennis but also capture the imagination of boxing fans and cement his status as a superstar.

Ennis has the talent, charisma, and fighting style to captivate audiences. His 28 knockouts in 31 fights are a testament to his power and skill. Philadelphia, a city with a rich boxing history, is ready to embrace him as their champion. But to reach the heights of boxing stardom, Ennis needs the right platform and the right opponents.

Eddie Hearn’s track record is a mixed bag. His success with fighters like Anthony Joshua showcases his ability to navigate the complex world of boxing promotions and secure lucrative deals and significant fights internationally. However, he has failed deliver tangible results in the US market, the market Boots hopes to conquer. Hearn is the only promoter that couldn’t deliver eight figure gates with boxing superstar, Canelo Alvarez and claims his Canelo events lost money. By comparison, Al Haymon’s PBC and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions’ events with Canelo generated huge revenue for both companies. Hearn also failed to turn American signees that came with lots of fanfare, like Demetrius Andrade, Daniel Jacobs and Tevin Farmer, into big stars.

For Boots, this partnership could be the turning point in his career. The boxing world will be watching closely on Saturday, not just to see if Ennis can defend his title but to see if this marks the beginning of his ascent to superstardom. If Hearn can deliver the big fights and Ennis continues to dominate in the ring, the answer to whether Eddie Hearn can turn Jaron Ennis into the next great American superstar may soon be a resounding yes, but both have to deliver.